Honoring the life of a civil rights icon and reflecting on an unforgettable moment at the 2024 Voices for Healthy Kids Summit.
The impact of Dolores Huerta can be seen in the words she has shared, the movements she has helped build, and the lasting change she has championed throughout her life. On October 28, 2026, the world lost a trailblazer in the fight for civil rights, labor rights, and social justice. Huerta, who passed away at the age of 96, dedicated her life to advocating for workers, women, families, and communities whose voices too often went unheard.
As co-founder of the United Farm Workers, Huerta helped organize farmworkers, fight for safer working conditions, and secure protections that transformed countless lives. Her famous rallying cry, “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”), became a powerful reminder that meaningful change is possible when people come together and recognize their collective strength.
For Voices for Healthy Kids and the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT), Huerta’s passing feels especially personal. When she joined us at our 2024 Summit in Los Angeles, her wisdom, generosity, and lifelong commitment to advocacy left a lasting impact on everyone who had the opportunity to hear from her.
An Unforgettable Experience in Los Angeles
The 2024 Voices for Healthy Kids Summit highlighted the experiences and leadership of Latino communities, bringing advocates together to connect, learn from one another, and reflect on the power of community-driven change. For me, one of the most meaningful moments of the entire gathering was the opportunity to welcome Dolores Huerta as a keynote guest.
Before our conversation, attendees viewed Dolores, a documentary directed by Peter Bratt that chronicles Huerta’s journey as a labor organizer, feminist, and civil rights leader. The film offered powerful context for understanding the determination, sacrifices, and achievements that defined her decades of advocacy. While the documentary provided an inspiring look at her legacy, nothing compared to the opportunity to hear directly from her.
As part of the Summit, I had the privilege of sitting down with Huerta for a live conversation about her early organizing experiences, the importance of building collective power, and the responsibility advocates have to bring others into the movement.
One of the moments that has stayed with me most was when she spoke about leadership:
“The number one thing we have to know is that we have to be the example and know that we can’t do things alone. The only way we will be able to make things happen is if we recruit people to join us, and I think that is part of being a leader and being an organizer!”
Her words reinforced a principle that continues to guide the work of Voices for Healthy Kids and NCIT: lasting change happens when people work together, build power within communities, and create opportunities for others to lead.
More Than an Interview, A Moment to Remember
Having the opportunity to sit across from Dolores Huerta and hear her reflect on decades of organizing and advocacy is something I will always cherish. What inspired me most was her ability to revisit those experiences with such clarity and purpose. You could hear how deeply she cared about the work, but also how much she believed in the people behind it. The conversation reminded me that advocacy is not just about the change we hope to create; it is also about investing in people and helping them recognize their own ability to make a difference.
There were so many memorable moments throughout the day. During the conversation, attendees surprised Huerta by raising handmade signs thanking her for her contributions to the labor and civil rights movements. It was a simple but powerful display of appreciation for a lifetime of service and leadership.
What stood out to me just as much, however, was the time she spent with people after the interview ended. She stayed to take photos, answer questions, and connect with advocates one-on-one. For many attendees, those personal interactions were every bit as meaningful as hearing her speak from the stage.
One interaction in particular has stayed with me. A young labor advocate from South Florida who had long admired Huerta’s work was introduced to her after the event. Rather than simply exchanging pleasantries, Huerta took the time to listen closely as he shared the work he was doing to protect workers in his community. She gave him her full attention, asked thoughtful questions, and encouraged his efforts. Watching that interaction felt like a reflection of the leadership she practiced throughout her life: creating space for others, recognizing emerging leaders, and helping people feel valued, capable, and empowered to carry the work forward.
A Legacy Connected to Our Work
While Dolores Huerta is widely recognized for her leadership in the farmworkers’ movement, her legacy extends far beyond labor organizing.
Her lifelong advocacy for fair wages, safe working conditions, economic security, and racial and gender justice reflects many of the same principles that guide the work of Voices for Healthy Kids and NCIT, especially the understanding that strong communities are built when families have the stability, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Long before these connections became common topics in public policy conversations, Huerta recognized how deeply intertwined issues of work, health, and family well-being truly are. She believed that lasting change happens when communities are equipped to lead, organize, and shape their own futures, a principle that continues to inspire our work with advocates and partners across the country.
Carrying Her Legacy Forward
As we remember Dolores Huerta, we are grateful not only for her extraordinary contributions to history but also for the time she shared with our Voices for Healthy Kids and NCIT community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, and the countless advocates whose lives she touched. We also offer our sincere appreciation to the colleagues who helped make her participation in the 2024 Summit possible, creating an experience that many of us will carry for years to come.
Her passing serves as a reminder that the most meaningful legacies are carried forward through the people inspired to continue the work, a responsibility that remains with all who had the opportunity to meet her, hear her speak, or learn from her example.
Her voice may be gone, but the power she helped build lives on. Sí, se puede.
Revisit the Life and Legacy of Dolores Huerta
We invite you to revisit two powerful resources that capture Huerta’s remarkable journey and the wisdom she shared with our community.
Watch our 2024 conversation with Dolores Huerta. Revisit the live interview from the Voices for Healthy Kids Summit in Los Angeles, where Huerta reflected on her experiences, leadership and lessons from a lifetime of advocacy.
Watch the full Voices for Healthy Kids interview
Explore the documentary Dolores. For those learning about Huerta’s work for the first time, or looking to reconnect with her remarkable story, this documentary offers an intimate look at her life, her contributions to the farmworkers’ movement, and her lasting influence on social justice.
Laura Coleman is the Advocacy Media Relations Manager for Voices for Healthy Kids, an initiative of the American Heart Association, and the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT). She leads media strategy across campaigns nationwide and helps equip Voices for Healthy Kids grantees and NCIT members with the skills they need to build strong, strategic relationships with reporters to advance public policy. Laura holds an M.S. in Strategic Communication from Louisiana State University, a B.S. in Mass Communication from Jackson State University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College. Off the clock, she’s with family, friends, and her fur baby, Eve.
